Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunost1103’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunost1103’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with purple-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1103’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunost1103’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compactand uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractiveinflorescence coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in May, 2008 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermumecklonis identified as code number 05.50.018, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunpix0804’, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in June, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark sinceNovember, 2009, has shown that the unique features of this newOsteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunost1103’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunost1103’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumplant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with purple-colored ray        florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller leaves than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Osteospermum have lighter-colored ray        florets than plants of ‘Sheila’.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the male parent,‘Sunpix0804’, primarily in ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunpix0804’have darker-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the newOsteospermum are not as compact as plants of ‘Sunpix0804’.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ‘Sunny Mary’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,389. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plants of the newOsteospermum differed from plants of ‘Sunny Mary’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more freely branching        than plants of ‘Sunny Mary’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum had smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Sunny Mary’.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Mary’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Mary’ have darker-colored        ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of three typical flowering plants of ‘Sunost1103’ grown in a21.5-cm container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Sunost1103’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. during the summer in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse and under environmental conditions andcultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercialOsteospermum production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 32° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 7° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 8,000 footcandles. Plants were pinched twice and were six weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1103’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 05.50.018,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunpix0804’,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 18° C. to            20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at            18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About four weeks            at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; inflorescences positioned above and            beyond the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 21.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 35 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit            with about ten primary lateral branches per plant; pinching            enhances branching. Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Mostly smooth and glabrous with a few scattered            hairs. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 4.3 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Broadly dentate to            entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            scaberulose; slightly pubescent along leaf margins. Texture,            lower surface: Slightly pubescent; scaberulose. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            N137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146C. Petiole:            Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146D. Color, lower surface: Close to 136D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and            axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane;            disc and ray florets developing acropetally on a capitulum;            inflorescences face mostly upright.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 45            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In southern California, plants of the            new Osteospermum flower continuously from early spring to            mid-summer; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering            about six weeks after planting.        -   Longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Osteospermum last about            three days on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About            1.1 cm. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Color: Close to 150C to            150D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.6 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 1.2 cm. Receptacle height: About 1.1 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Aspect: About 45° from vertical. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About 17 to 18 in a single whorl.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 84B. When            opening, lower surface: Longitudinal stripes, close to 94C            and 157D. Fully opened, upper surface: Mid-section and            towards the apex, longitudinal stripes, close to N78A and            N78B; towards the base, close to 72A; color becoming closer            to N79C with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Longitudinal stripes, close to N77B and 186C.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 8 mm. Diameter, apex: About 3 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1.5 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 80. Color: Immature: Close to 145A.            Mature: Apex: Close to N79C. Mid-section: Close to 145C.            Base: Close to 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 18 in a single            whorl. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower            surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.8 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal            peduncles: Mostly upright. Aspect, axillary peduncles: About            30° to 35° from vertical. Texture: Sparsely pubescent.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close            to 157A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm.            Anther color: Close to 79A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 164B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and            disc florets. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:            Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to N79A. Style length: About            2.5 mm. Style color: Close to N79B. Ovary color: Close to            145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Osteospermum.-   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 9.

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunost1103’ asillustrated and described.